MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS AND THE CLERGY - A NEED FOR CLINICAL COLLABORATION, TRAINING, AND RESEARCH

This article calls for greater collaboration between clergy and marria ge and family therapists. It spells out the reasons for potential coll aboration and suggests some specific ways it can occur. Marriage and f amily therapists acknowledge the highest rates of religious involvemen t of any mental health profession, placing them in a unique position t o be involved in the continuing education of clergy. There is a clear need for research to understand how marriage and family therapists and clergy can more effectively work together. The dearth of research, tr aining, and collaboration between the two vocations is all the more un fortunate given the clear evidence of the importance of religion in th e personal lives of the clients we serve.